The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-12-13
The Pictured Rocks of Virginia.

white sandstone which wears very slightly
from exposure to the weather. and upon its
smooth surface are delineated outlines of at
least fifty species of animals, birds, reptiles,
and fish, embracing i'll the number panthers,
deer, buffalo, offers, beavers, wildcats, foxes,
wolves, raccoons, opoSSums, bears, elk, crows,
eagles, turkeys, cells, various sorts of fish, large
and small snakes, etc. In the midst of this
silent menagerie of specimens OF the animal
Kingdom is the full length of female form,
beautiful and perfect in every respect Inter
spersed among the drawings of animals, etc.,
are limitations of the footprints of each sort
the whole space occupied being $50 feet long
by 90 wide. 1t is believed that these figures
were engraved many ages ago, but it cannot
be even conjectured to what tribe the artist be-
longed, and how he made the remarkable draw
ings is quite as much mystery.
AS to Rabbits
The rabbit is q common article of food, and
about these days and later in tho early snow
falls is most vigorously hunted with dog and
gum In Australia and New Zealand, where
this animal was introduced for sporting pur-
poses, he quickly became acclimated and
spread over the land until he is recognized as
first class pest The rabbit threatened to
obliterate those colonies, and measures were
taken to effect his destruction. In one year
in New Zealand more than 100000
acres OF sheep pasturage were surren-
deFea e-the rabbit; = the losses in
exports are estimated at $2,5O0,000 year;
III lHEcS years lOU,UDO,UUU were Killed. L
has cost $4,000 to clear single estate IN Aus
tralia,P ind from $4,000 to 75.0 900 is no unusual
tribute for the expulsion of these animals. AL
ready we have n dozen native species which
intlict great ravages on field and farm In
California they gnaW the Crane vines and de-
stroy pasturage and meadows. In Utah they
deYastate the cereal crops and in, that territory
few years ago they were found to wear in
their backs, as cattle some times do, a death
delivering grub, whose operation was fatal
whose bnnionnnt 9ngnipne hn Ian
was saved from disaster. In fact, in all parts
OF the union, the farmers report the ruin by
the teeth of these innocents, of fruit trees, ma
pies, garden vegetables grain crops, clover
pastures. and indeed when driven by cold, of
everything herbaceous. They gnaw and bark
and girdle, pursuing their destructive work
under the convenient concealment of snow.
They are slain by thousands, but they are
a fecund race and increase by millions.
The sufferers by their ravages invite govern
ment aid, especially in the prohibition of the
importation of new and untried varieties
This is seconded by the department of agri-
culture which suggests that if experiments
are to be made, even with beneficial birds
and animals, that they be assigned to an is
land habitant, and there be quarantined until
it can be certainly known whether they fill the
bill as harmless additions to the roll of Amer
lean denizens
The boholink wears sundry aliases, rs reed
bird, rice bird, butter bird, rice hunting and
skunk backbird. His range is from Labrador
to Mexico and the West Indies. His name
changes with his locality He opens his cam
paign in South Carolina in April, and times
his return to the Dist of August so as to vex
the rice planter when that crop is in the milk
or in the first hardened grain. He deyotes
the interim to the production and care
Of q family OF destructiyes, and visits
New Jersey and Pennsylvania for short
time anterior to his raid on the rice fields
He is lively and pleasing bird, rich in color
and in voice. during the season of domestic
care and comfort. He is n dainty dish for a
king and in truth is moro beneticient i'll his
death than in his life. The gathered rice crop
is worth six million dollars. and before the
harvest this bird leyies toll of two millions.
The planters try TO circumvent this bird by
planting so early as to forestall him, both in
the milk and the ripened stage. In the two rice
bird seasons, the South Carolina plantation
is great battlefield. BIRD minders," armed
with the requisite munitions of war, encom-
pass and invade the area occupied and destroy
the birds i'll great numbers, but the feathered
depredatOrs fly from place TO place, only to re-
new their rayageS when out OF range. The
government has sent circulars to the rice
planters, and personal investigation was
made in the disturbed districts. A fat of de-
struction has gone forth and bobolinks are ex-
pected to "sing very small"
In 1850, year when the "measurng worm"
was most WantOnly active in New York and
Brooklyn, crowding the trees of parks and
streets, lifting his slow length along in the
Brooklyn imported eight pairs Of English spar
rows. They were carefully housed in winter
and let loose in the spring. From these
sprang unnumbered woes A few
square feet then bounded their
ambitious fight. Now, after lapse Of thirty
five years, they range over ,000,000,000 square
miles Of the United States and Canada. They
spread themselves" slowly at first, bnt soon
sci" out to undertake the conquest of CONT
nent. They now occupy all the states from
Name to Mississippi, and possesses Kansas
and Missouri. They are found in detached
settlements along the Gulf in Texas, and will
soon cover all the area in which are their out
posts and colonies. At Salt Lake city they
oyerrun an elliptical region as large as Yer
mont and form Gordon around the golden
gate. For the last fifteen years they have spread
at the rate OF G0,0O0 square miles year.
They adopt all routes and means OF travel
They entered the eastern provinces and Cam
ada by fTpe rides ON boats and cars, and made
themselves at home at once.
The statistician OF the pathological diYis-
ion furnished some appalling figures anent the
increment Of these birds. A pair Of sparrows
produces five or six broodssa year with four
10 six young in brood. Assume the product
to be twenty-four, half males and half fe-
males; with the old birds, thirteen pairs in all.
These thirteen tho next produce BIZ birds; add
tho thirteen pairs and you have 1873. Go on
with this calculation for ten years, assuming
all live out that period, and the result Is thus
given, sanctioned by tho executive, published
by congress and distributed to long suffering
people.
End Of tenth year Number Of pairs Of
young, 127,253,g 92 476; | number Of
pairs breeding, 10,G03, 1883; total Of pairs,
137, S58, A91 81; number Of birds (total), 25,-
7lG953G98.
Fancy the gross weight Of this product ut
two ounces for each bird-17 100000 tons Of
1000 pounds-twice the annual through freight
tonnage Of the New York Central. Compute
their food at one ounce per day.
BY circulars sent TO ali parts Of the country
the government invited information as to the
habits Of the sparrow. The statements re-
turned are made the basis Of All Indictment,
Of which the following are the leading points:
The English sparrow has expelled native
songsters, which are unable 10 maintain their
ground against his determined bellggerency
Among the familiar birds once visiting our
garden and fields, but now less fire.
quently seen, are robins, bluebirds, song spar
rows, wrsns, yellow BIRDS orioles
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